After a car crashed into the back of a commuter bus in Norfolk, Virginia (VA), seven people went to hospitals with injuries. The rear-end collision involving the Hampton Roads Transit bus occurred shortly before 5 pm on January 25, 2015, on East Princess Anne Road, near the intersection with Courtney Avenue.
According to a statement HRT provided to the Virginian-Pilot, six of the injured people were passengers aboard the bus. The driver of the car that struck the bus also required transportation for medical care. Details on the victims’ condition were not available.
Rear-end collisions often cause head and neck injuries such as concussions and whiplash. Also, because the bus was parked at a stop when it got struck from behind, some of the passengers were likely in the aisle and walking to or from the door. The impact would have knocked those individuals off their feet, putting them at risk for cuts, contusions and broken bones.
Regardless of how the passengers were hurt, the reality is that they suffered injuries when a car ran into the bus. Perhaps the at-fault driver became distracted and failed to notice the HRT vehicle had stopped. Maybe the person behind the wheel of the car was speeding and unable to slow to a stop himself. Impairment by drugs or alcohol must also be considered.
My Virginia Beach-based personal injury law firm colleagues and I have seen each of these avoidable scenarios play out. The explanation matters because if the crash in Norfolk could have been prevented by a more cautious or responsible driver, the injured passengers can potentially hold the person who harmed them accountable by filing insurance claims. Such legal and financial considerations are likely days or weeks away, though. For now, the bus riders should focus on healing. We wish them well.
EJL